12-14 July 2016, NY, USA

The next Open Consultations and face-to-face Meeting of the IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) is scheduled to take place on 12-14 July 2016, in New York, USA.

Venue - Place and Time of Meeting
The meeting will be held at United Nations Headquarters, New York, from 12 to 14 July 2016. It will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 6:00 p.m. daily.

On 12 July, the meeting will take place in Conference Room 1 (CR1) and on 13 and 14 July, in Conference Room 5 (CR5) - both are located in the Conference Building at UN Headquarters. Please note that due to heavy demand for rooms during this week, room assignment may change.

Registration and Badging

All participants had to register for the meeting through the form set on the IGF website in order to receive a badge (UN identification pass) byFriday 8 July, 1:00 a.m. UTC-11 (14:00 p.m. Geneva/ 8:00 a.m. New York). No on-site registration will be possible.

UN identification passes will be distributed at the 46th Street Visitors' Entrance from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 12 July 2016. Please approach our staff member with the IGF sign to receive your pass. You will be required to show your personal ID before the pass is given to you.

The purpose of the second round of IGF open consultations and MAG meeting is to advance preparations for the IGF 2016 annual meeting and to take stock of the ongoing IGF community intersessional activities and other relevant Internet Governance related fora.

Links for participation during the main meeting in plenary

Remote participants will be able to interact throughout the meeting by sending text questions and/or video/audio interventions using the remote participation platform (Webex). These questions will be forwarded to the panel moderator when s/he opens the floor for questions from the audience.

When making an intervention remotely, please remember that your remarks may be interpreted into different languages and keep the following points in mind:

• speak from a quiet office without background noise;

• if calling by phone, use a landline and not a mobile;

• speak slowly and clearly so the interpreters can compensate any audio problem;

• speak into your handset and not into a speaker phone;

• when you speak, make sure your computer speakers are muted or turned down.

• start by stating your name and the country or organization that you represent.

• end your remarks with the phrase "This concludes my intervention".

• be prepared to type your question or comment in the chat window, if connection is poor.

• be sure to send by email a copy of any presentation, speech or material you intend to deliver.

Despite their rigorous training and extensive experience, interpreters may occasionally be hindered in their ability to provide a smooth rendering, should the audio become substandard. In extreme cases, they may even have to refrain from interpreting altogether. Please note that for an interpreter the audio signal has to be near-perfect.

2nd IGF Open Consultations and Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) Meeting

12-14 July 2016

United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA

Summary Report

1. The 2nd Open Consultations and MAG Meeting of the 2016 IGF preparatory cycle took place from 12-14 July 2016 at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Online participation was made available (live transcription, Webex, webcast) for those who were unable to join in person. Ms. Lynn St. Amour moderated the meeting as Chair of the MAG. Mr. Victor Lagunes, Chief Information Officer, Office of the President of Mexico, acted as co-chair of the meeting representing the 2016 IGF Host Country. Mr. Chengetai Masango represented the IGF Secretariat and Mr. Wai-Min Kwok represented the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).

2. The agenda for the 3-day meeting was focused on advancing preparations for the IGF 2016 annual meeting and taking stock of the ongoing IGF community intersessional activities and other relevant Internet Governance related fora. Transcripts[1] and archived webcasts[2] from the 3 days of proceedings held in plenary can be accessed via the IGF website and IGF YouTube channel[3].

3. The Open Consultations day opened with a welcoming statement[4] from United Nations Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs Mr. Wu Hongbo. who extended on behalf of the United Nations Secretary General a warm welcome and thanks to all IGF community stakeholders participating in the meetings both in-person in New York and online. In his remarks, it was emphasized that the United Nations was committed to help foster the growth and strengthen the IGF moving forward, together with the multistakeholder community. It was also emphasized that the theme that the MAG proposed for the 2016 IGF, on “Enabling Inclusive and Sustainable Growth”, was timely and forward-looking; particularly considering the broader work being undertaken to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which underscores that the Internet and information and communication technologies can play enabling roles in implementing the SDGs and their associated targets.

4. The IGF Secretariat gave a brief update to the community on programming progress for the annual meeting. It was noted that more than 260 workshop proposals[5] had been received, which is the most proposals the IGF has ever received. Some figures on the proposals - including stakeholder and regional breakdowns - are available on the IGF website[6]. It was also noted that 46 requests for Open Forums[7] had been received, which was also the most requests for Open Forums that the IGF has ever received. The Secretariat then reminded the community that requests for space on Day Zero[8] (5 December 2016) and for booths[9] in the IGF village during the annual meeting were currently being received by the Secretariat and that information for making such requests was available on the IGF website.

5. The 2016 Host Country organizing team from Mexico then gave an update on preparations for the 2016 annual meeting[10] set to take place from 6-9 December in Guadalajara, Mexico. It was emphasized that the host country organizing team was working closely with the United Nations and that all information for participants would be made publically available as soon as it was finalized. The venue for the 2016 IGF, the Cultural Institute Cabañas, has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. A number of suggestions and requests from the community present at the meeting and participating online asked for an annual meeting which logistically and substantively welcomed newcomers and those participating remotely. The host country, together with the MAG and IGF Secretariat; assured the community that the overall program would be built with this in mind.

6. The 2016 IGF Best Practice Forums[11] (BPFs) then provided brief updates to the community, and explained how all stakeholders could get involved in the various work of the BPFs. It was noted by representatives of the BPFs on IPv6, IXPs, Cybersecurity and Gender and Access that work was already well underway and that a number of inclusive and participatory processes were available for the broader community to get involved in. All stakeholders were invited to join this work by subscribing to the dedicated BPF mailing lists[12] and joining the open virtual meetings. There was agreement that increased outreach and working with a longer-term view was key to the ultimate success of the BPFs both in 2016 and moving forward and that BPFs can be better utilized as unique mechanisms to engage new stakeholders in IGF processes. Finally, it was announced that a new 2016 BPF on Anti-Corruption was being launched and that information on this BPF and ways to engage in its work would be made available to the broader community shortly.

7. Next, an update was provided to the community on progress made in the intersessional work IGF: Policy Options for Connecting and Enabling the Next Billion(s) (CENB) - Phase II[13]. It was noted that a final framework for the Phase II work, prepared in a bottom-up manner in consultation with the community, had recently been posted to the IGF website and that an open call for contributions had been launched. All stakeholders were invited to submit contributions in this regard. Information on how to do so as well as a list of guiding questions are available on the IGF website.

8. Representatives from some of the National and Regional IGF Initiatives[14] (NRIs) and the MAG coordinators then gave short updates to the community on the overall status of NRI activities as well as some of the work being undertaken towards increasing the synergies and collaboration between the NRIs and the IGF. All stakeholders were invited to join an open mailing list[15] which supports the coordination of this work and it was also reported that bi-monthly virtual meetings were being convened by the IGF Secretariat, open to the community, to help NRI coordinators and participants both plan their main session for IGF 2016 and work on other cross-NRI projects and collaborative work, etc. There are currently 62 NRIs and other (including Youth initiatives) active around the world and many new initiatives expect to convene their first IGFs in 2016-2017.

9. There was also an update on the ongoing work of the IGF Dynamic Coalitions[16] (DCs). The community was reminded that the thematic IGF DCs are open to all interested stakeholders and that a DC coordination group has also been set-up, supported by the IGF Secretariat, to help the DCs plan their main session for IGF 2016 and to also allow the DCs to discuss common issues or questions horizontally. Those community members interested in joining a DC, joining the DC coordination group or learning more about their work were invited to visit the IGF website[17].

10. The majority of the afternoon of the Open Consultation day was then spent on an open discussion and community dialogue about the upcoming Retreat on Advancing the 10-year mandate of the IGF[18], which was set to take place immediately after the MAG meeting, from 14-16 July. The UN Secretariat, who convened the retreat, guided the discussion and took a number of suggestions from the community about items and issues set to be discussed in depth at the retreat itself. The community was assured that any outputs from the retreat would be shared with the community as part of a public consultation after the retreat.

11. The Open Consultation day concluded with some brief updates, proposals and invitations[19] from other related Internet Governance initiatives and organizations including Stanford University (Deliberative Poll), World Economic Forum Internet for All Initiative, Global Internet Policy Observatory, NetMundial Initiative, ITU, Friends of the IGF and Access Now. This was seen as a useful dialogue which allowed these related initiatives to brief the IGF community on their work to see how the IGF could further engage and partner with these initiatives and organizations. It allowed the MAG to consider where this related work might be integrated into the annual meeting program.

12. The MAG meeting officially opened on the morning of day 2 and was open to observers. The Host Country then gave the MAG an overview of the state of preparations for the annual meeting, including the proposed layout of the workshop rooms and main/focus session hall, IGF village, etc. It was reported that an open space/extra room would be available for new, innovative sessions, some flash sessions, an un-conference space, etc. There was agreement that the IGF Secretariat and the host country would update and consult with the MAG as proposals for Day 0 and other sessions came in in the coming months ahead of the annual meeting. The Host Country also stated their commitment to work with the MAG to bring in as many newcomers, high-level participants, youth, and other under-represented groups to the annual meeting. It was also reported that a high-level meeting or substantive session would be organized by the Host Country and that all stakeholders would be invited to join. Further logistical planning, i.e. workshop room allocation, remote participation and translation facilities, will also be carried out by the Secretariat and Host Country in consultation with the MAG as needed for their overall aim to advise the UN Secretary-General on the program of the annual meeting.

13. The rest of the first day of the MAG meeting and much of the second day (day 3) was spent on the workshop selection process. The IGF Secretariat had compiled and circulated the results of the workshop evaluation carried out by the MAG in the weeks preceding the face-to-face meeting, and the selection process was guided by these evaluation scores and results. Workshops were then accepted and selected for the program by the MAG based both on their evaluation scores (following previously publically published criteria[20]) and with an aim to achieve and produce a balanced (thematically and regionally, with diverse stakeholder participation) inclusive program which encourages participation of newcomers to the IGF and stakeholders from developing and least-developed countries.

14. Other sessions such as Open Forums and meetings of IGF Dynamic Coalitions, among others, were also taken into account in this regard to ensure an overall balanced program. The MAG completed the workshop selection process and the IGF Secretariat then agreed to carry out the next steps in the programming work which includes contacting all of the workshop proposers to inform them if they’ve been accepted, accepted with some conditionalities, or not accepted for the 2016 IGF. Some workshops will also be asked to merge with other similar workshops in an effort to reduce redundancy and/or strengthen the resulting workshop. The Secretariat will also convey to some workshop proposer’s specific feedback from the MAG. The Secretariat will contact those who submitted Open Forum proposals conveying if they’ve been accepted or not based upon consultations with the MAG and whether the Open Forum proposal met the criteria[21] for an Open Forum.

15. There was also a lengthy programming discussion about the main/focus sessions for the 2016 IGF. A MAG working group had produced main session guidelines[22] in the lead-up to the meeting and the IGF Secretariat had compiled a number of proposals received for main sessions from both MAG members and other IGF community stakeholders which were reviewed and discussed in-depth by the MAG. The MAG was reminded that the main/focus sessions are the only slots that are translated into all 6 UN languages, and therefore should be highlighted appropriately in the program. They are also traditionally held in the biggest meeting room, and this will be the case again for the 11th IGF.

16. There was agreement, building also on previous MAG discussions, that NRIs would be allotted a 3-hour main session, BPFs and CENB intersessional work would be given a shared 3-hour main session, and the IGF DC’s would also have space in a main/focus session. The other thematic proposals were then discussed and reviewed and there was some discussion about the timing of the sessions, as the translators allow for 3 hour blocks of time for the main/focus sessions in the morning and afternoons, excluding the space needed for the Opening and Closing ceremonies. The MAG agreed that further discussion was needed to finalize and further shape the main sessions, and this discussion and planning will be taken online and to future virtual meetings. As stated also in the main session guidelines, there was agreement that the main/focus sessions should be carefully planned to be highlights of the 2016 program, and should touch upon the most popular, timely and forward-looking for the IGF community, with an aim also to bring in newcomers to the IGF dialogue as well as media and other related organizations and initiatives.

16. Finally, there was some discussion amongst the MAG about the need for and possible timing for a 3rd face-to-face Open Consultations and MAG Meeting ahead of the annual meeting in December. The Secretariat will look into this matter and consult with the MAG in the coming days to announce if a meeting will take place or not. It was also agreed that a new MAG working group would be established to re-examine the existing workshop proposal and selection process to see how it could be improved moving forward.

List of Participants

Chair

Ms. Lynn St. Amour

Internet Matters

Host Country Co-Chair

Mr. Victor Romero

CIO, Office of the President of Mexico

Host Country Representatives

Ms. Yolanda Martinez

Chief of the Digital Government Unit, Mexico

Special Advisor to the Chair

Ambassador Benedicto Fonseca

Brasilia, Brazil - Director of the Department of Scientific and Technological Affairs at the Ministry of External Relations

MAG Members

Ms. Abdulla, Rasha

Associate Professor at the American University in Cairo

Ms. Aquino Ribeiro, Renata

Professor at the Federal University of Ceara, IT Campus, Quixada City, Brazil

Mr. Bazlyankov, Iliya

CIO, UNICART

Ms. Bou Harb, Zeina

OGERO Telecom, Ministry of Telecommunications, Lebanon

Mr. Boukadoum, Mourad

Counselor, Permanent Mission of Algeria

Ms. Cade, Marilyn

CEO, Strategies mCADE llc.

Mr. Casasbuenas, Julian

Director, Colnodo

Mr. Cheon, Billy Mooho

General Researcher, Korea Internet and Security Agency

Mr. Dengate Thrush, Peter

Counsel, Barrister

Mr. Elgamal, Hossam

Board Member, AfICTA – Africa ICT Alliance

Ms. Doria, Avri

Independent Researcher, DBA Technicalities

Mr. Fernández González, Juan Alfonso

Advisor, Ministry of Communications, Cuba

Mr. Estrada, Miguel Ignacio

Internet Policy Analyst, Ministry of Modernization, Argentina

Ms. Franz, Liesyl

Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues at the Department of State, USA

Mr. Gjorgjinski, Ljupco Jivan

Assistant Director, Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia